Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1887-10-26

ler; anu Un0 nOuS0ma1O W6pU, duU Uuo
knife BOY blubbered. Only Peter
Morgan sat without demonstration,
beside the fire. Peter Morgan, a stran-
ger, who had come to help about the
stables, within the past three weeks.
"The master has right to search
us if he likes" he said, "aud we are
all in the same box, none worse hurt
than the others. If we're honest,
why, what harm can come from it ?"
And at that old John-ap.J ohm
broke out furiously:
"Hur must be the thief, if bur don't
mind the name ozone" ne yelled. "It
never was gift to John-ap-Jo before"
And then the whole Kitchen fell foul
of unhappy Peter Morgan and abused
him. Before the quarrel was over the
constables arrived.
The servants and their chests and
boxes were searched and nothing
found. But, then, no one would have
been fool enough to put the jewels
where they could be come at after once
stealing them. Suspicion was not
lessened by this fact; it still lay heavy
upon the anxious men and women.
And they we're very anxious urder it,
for, besides the terror of a false &C.
cusatiop, q ''good character" was inn
portant to them as a stock in trade,
and one upon whose honesty rested g.
blemish could scarcely find service
again. Therefore they were not dis
pleased, but rather comforted by the
news that the major was about to
steal" the truth by Bible and key, and
that they were all summoned to his
presence for that purpose.
cit will come out now" said John
app ohm. "Better confess before hur
has any more trouble"
And he looked at Peter Morgan.
Every one else looked at him, too,
but they made nothing by that, and
after such preparations as were need.
full the little troop filed into the par
lor and stood before the major, Miss
Biackthwaite and her friend. And at
once eyes were riveted upon the thick
Bible, corded about So as to bind
within it's leaves a great iron door
key.
The major was graver than before.
He arose and addressed the conclave
with an air that proved how much
Importance he attached to the super
stitious ceremony which was about to
be performed.
"My friends" he said, "we are about
to ask Heaven to Judge us. Reflect;
deception is longer impossible. Let
the guilty confess and make res6itu-
ton, and | will treat him leniently-
there is yet time. l do not wish to
resort to harsh measures
But no one spoke and the major
took up the Bible.
"John-ap-John," he said, "clear
yourself first" And the old man
walked slowly toward his master.
Holding the Bible by the key, he re-
peated the names of the three persons
of the Trinity, and called Upon them
to witness his perfect honesty. And
the key remained lmmovable, end old
John returned to his corner, angry
still, but feeling he had proved MINI
self entirely above suspicion.
In turn his fellow-servants followed,
the women bursting into tears as they
retired, leaving the key still unturned
between the great Bible leaves. And
sit last it came to Peter MOrgan's
turn.
The man came forward boldly
enough and took firm hold of the key.
Then he began to utter the sacred
names with which the 7sseveration of
his innocence commenced:
"God the Father-God the Son -"
But then before he could utter an.
other word, the key turned In the BIZ
ble-turned fairly around before all
those eyes which were riveted upon it,
and the sacred book itself dropped
from Peter Morgan's hand.
"For all that | never touched the
diamonds" he cried. But no one
there believed him. the test of the
Bible and the key was considered in
tallible, and he was sent to prison to
await mis- trial.
It was proved that on the morn
ing after the loss of the dia-
monds Peter Morgan had gone
over to the village where his
rent, but bought her red COW, and
that he would not tell whence the
money came. Now, pressed upon the
point, he declared he had sold silver
watch for it, but did not like to say
so. because it was an heirloom in the
family, having been given to his father
by rich man, whose servant be had
been. But he had sold it to q travel
ing peddler, so that the proof could
no be given, and III the end his guilt
seemed quite established, and he was
doomed to be changed about the
neck until he was Dead" upon the old
gallows of Gwelt Town, it being be.
lieved by all that at the last moment
he would make confession.
Miss BLACK thwaite was much dis
tres~ed. but she believed that when
once the key turned all doubt Of Pc.
ter's guilt had vanished and that her
sympathy was thrown away.
AS for the major, he would not have
i'm erfered with the laws of Ills coun-
try had it been possible, and John-ap-
John and his fellow-servants thought
no fate too bad for one who had cast
SO much suspicion upon them-and
the day drew near upon which he was
to die, and only his poor old mother
came to the prison gates to weep, or